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🍋 Vintage 1940s Channel Lemons Crate Label – Santa Barbara County, California

This original 1940s Channel Lemons crate label is a preserved example of Southern California citrus packaging from the early twentieth century. It was produced by the Goleta Lemon Association of Santa Barbara County, California, a region known for its coastal citrus groves and premium lemon production.

Lithographed by Schmidt Litho Co. of Los Angeles, the label features a dramatic coastal scene depicting seabirds, a lighthouse, and a ship navigating the Santa Barbara Channel, with lemon groves stretching inland. This maritime imagery was intentionally chosen to evoke freshness, coastal purity, and regional identity — qualities that helped Channel Lemons stand out in competitive wholesale markets. 🎨

During the 1930s and 1940s, Channel Lemons was associated with Red Ball–grade fruit, signaling top‑quality lemons to buyers nationwide. Labels like this were designed not only to identify produce, but to communicate trust, consistency, and origin at a glance.

Measuring 12 1/4" × 8 3/4", this label was created for short‑term commercial use and originally applied to wooden citrus crates shipped by rail and truck across the United States. Because these labels were intended to be discarded after shipping, surviving examples in untouched condition are increasingly scarce.

This piece remains New Old Stock (NOS) — unused, unmounted, and exceptionally clean. Color remains strong and vibrant, with crisp edges and an intact surface, offering a rare look at the label exactly as it would have appeared when first issued. 🌟

Crate labels from Santa Barbara County are especially sought after by collectors, as the region played a key role in California’s coastal citrus industry. Today, vintage citrus crate labels are recognized as collectible folk art and advertising ephemera, valued for both their visual impact and their connection to California’s agricultural past.

This Channel Lemons label stands as a preserved artifact from a time when California citrus branding was bold, narrative‑driven, and visually ambitious. 🍊

📐 Details

Era: 1940s
Producer: Goleta Lemon Association, Goleta, CA
Lithographer: Schmidt Litho Co., Los Angeles
Region: Santa Barbara County, California
Size: 12 1/4" × 8 3/4"
Condition: New Old Stock (unused, unmounted)
Material: Lithographed paper crate label